The Myanmar Political Prisoners Network has reported the stripping of underage female political prisoners at juvenile centers run by the junta’s Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
Sexual abuse has been reported in Bahan and Kawhmu townships in Yangon Region and Patheingyi Township in Mandalay Region where young convicts and political prisoners are held. The centers are officially known as youth training schools.
Most of the political prisoners at the centers are serving three to 15 years on sedition and terrorism charges for opposing the regime, said Ko Thaik Tun Oo of the network.
“The principal and so-called teachers beat girls with sticks at the juvenile centers. They forced some to strip naked as a punishment. It is a degrading treatment and human rights violation,” he said.
CCTV monitors bedrooms, bathrooms and toilets at the Bahan center, which calls itself a vocational training school, making inmates feel emotional insecurity.
Ma Zin May Thet of the Women’s Organization of Political Prisoners said: “We have recorded physical and emotional abuse of children and sexual abuse against female political prisoners, and punishing of them as if they were a criminal. The guards will be held accountable one day when justice is established.”
Kawhmu inmates do not get enough sanitary pads and their families are barred from sending food and other items to all three centers. The centers do not provide proper health care or enough food.
Most inmates are under 18 with an age range of 13 to 20. Many of the over-18s are nearing the completion of their sentences, said a source.
“There are more than 200 convicts and political prisoners in the juvenile centers combined,” he said.
The Irrawaddy was unable to obtain a comment from the juvenile centers.
The junta ministry also runs three juvenile centers for males in Yangon and Mandalay.
According to the ministry, there are 11 youth training schools in Yangon, Mandalay and Ayeyarwady regions and Shan and Mon states.
